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Renewable planning SolarSouth Derbyshire

Solar planning in South Derbyshire

South Derbyshire has decided 12 solar farms and approved 67% of them, taking a median of 4.9 months to decide. Consented capacity: 37 MW. 5 applications still awaiting a decision.

67%
Approved
8 granted · 4 refused
4.9 mo
Median decision
UK 2.3 mo
37 MW
Consented
36 MW refused
1
Appeals
0 allowed on appeal

How South Derbyshire compares

Against the 298 UK authorities with 5+ solar decisions, South Derbyshire sits in the 2nd percentile for approval rate (26 points below the England average) and the 8th percentile for speed.

Decisions by year

510Approved — 1 (2011)111Approved — 4 (2015)Refused — 2 (2015)615Refused — 1 (2016)116Approved — 1 (2022)122Approved — 2 (2023)223Refused — 1 (2025)125
Approved Refused

Solar decisions by the year the decision was issued (Renewable Energy Planning Database). Withdrawn and still-undecided applications are excluded, so a short bar can mean a quiet year rather than a strict council.

Every recorded scheme (19)

SchemeMWStatusDecided
Toyota Solar Farm - Solar Farm
Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK Limited · DMPA/2025/1001
16Application Submitted2025-08-08
Lullington Solar Park
Lullington Solar Park Limited · DMPA/2025/0779
44Application Submitted2025-07-07
Arleston Solar & Battery Energy Storage System
Noventum Power Limited · DMOT/2025/0113
43Application Submitted2025-07-02
Newton Solney - Solar Farm
Anesco Limited · DMPA/2024/1052 · 7.1 mo to decide
21.09Application Refused2025-03-11
Midland Lead, Kiln Way - Solar Photovoltaic Panels
Cactus Energy · DMPN/2022/1123 · 5.5 mo to decide
0.24Operational2023-01-23
Hoon Hay Manor, Hatton - Solar Farm
Hoon Hay Solar Limited · DMPA/2021/1585 · 11.3 mo to decide
5.1Awaiting Construction2023-01-13
Kiln Way, Woodville - Solar Photovoltaic Panels
Cactus Energy · DMPN/2022/0732
0.18Revised2022-06-01
Hawthorn Farm - Solar photovoltaic panels
Unknown · DMPA/2021/0315 · 11 mo to decide
10Under Construction2022-02-22
Lullington Solar Park
Lullington Solar Park Limited · DMPA/2021/1014
49.9Revised2021-06-22
Park Road
Earthworm Energy · 9/2015/0689 · 7.7 mo to decide
5Application Refused2016-04-21
Solar Farm on land east of the A38, Willington
Lark Energy · 9/2015/0986 · 3.7 mo to decide
3.8Abandoned2016-02-10
Hawthorn Farm Solar Park
Green Switch Solutions/Belvedere Energy Developments - Liquidated · 9/2015/0688 · 11.2 mo to decide
4.6Abandoned2015-12-16
Shortheath Solar Park
Trina Solar · 9/2015/0680 · 4.4 mo to decide
5Operational2015-12-16
Land at Sunnyside Court
Ethical Power · 9/2015/0124 · 7.4 mo to decide
4.9Application Refused2015-12-16
Brizlincote Hall Solar Farm
Vortex (formerly SunEdison) · 9/2015/0564 · 3.7 mo to decide
5Application Refused2015-11-09
Short Hazel Solar Farm
Pearmat Solar · 9/2015/0257 · 4.4 mo to decide
5Operational2015-08-05
Drakelow Solar Farm
BlackRock · 9/2015/0256 · 2.5 mo to decide
5Operational2015-06-24
Land at Coton Park Colliery
NESF (formerly Green Energy Networks) · 9/2014/1015 · 3.9 mo to decide
2.5Operational2015-03-09
Toyota Solar Farm
Bluefield Solar Income Fund · 9/2011/0180 · 1 mo to decide
4.6Operational2011-04-11

Does South Derbyshire approve solar farms?

Yes — of the 12 solar farms South Derbyshire has decided, 67% were approved (8 granted, 4 refused). The UK-wide rate for solar is 93%.

How long does a solar farm application take in South Derbyshire?

The median time from application to decision is 4.9 months, against a UK median of 2.3 months for solar. That is measured between the submission and decision dates recorded in REPD, so it reflects the whole determination period including any extensions.

How much solar capacity has South Derbyshire consented?

37 MW has been consented across 8 approved schemes, with 36 MW refused. A further 5 applications awaits a decision.

Other technologies in South Derbyshire

Battery storage in South DerbyshireOnshore wind in South Derbyshire

Source: Renewable Energy Planning Database (REPD), Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Open Government Licence v3.0 — 2026 Q1 extract. Approval rate is over decided applications only (approved ÷ approved+refused); withdrawn and undecided schemes are excluded. A permission later expired still counts as approved because consent was granted. REPD covers schemes of roughly 150 kW and above, is published quarterly, and does not record refusal reasons — so nothing here explains why a scheme was refused. Screening context for site selection, not planning advice.

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